Public high schools secure prestigious first in course places
NSW public high schools across the State are celebrating the excellence of their HSC students after securing 51 First in Course awards at a ceremony earlier this week.
Twenty-six students from 23 NSW public schools received a First in Course award and 25 First-in Course awards were secured by students at the NSW Education Department’s two specialist language schools – around half the language awards on offer.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said he was thrilled to meet with public school students from across the State at Tuesday's First in Course ceremony.
“To be First in Course is an amazing achievement not only for these young adults, but for their families and teachers who have supported them on their HSC journey.
“I am proud to see 23 of NSW’s public high schools represented at this ceremony, and in particular delighted that our regional students have also showcased that excellence and achievement is possible no matter where you live.”
Three public schools received two first in course awards:
- James Ruse Agricultural High School (Mathematics Extension 2 and Physics)
- North Sydney Girls High School (History Extension and Japanese Continuers)
- Baulkham Hills High School (Japanese Extension and Korean Beginners)
The NSW School of Languages and the Secondary College of Languages – both run by the Department of Education – dominated the attainment lists, accounting for 25 awards, from Arabic Extension to Vietnamese Continuers.
Blacktown Girls High School student Sukhmani Kaur was visiting her grandmother in India when she found out she was first in NSW in the HSC Information Processes and Technology course. She flew back to Sydney for today’s ceremony.
Blacktown Girls High School principal Maria Trimmis said Sukhmani’s first in Information Processes and Technology, a male-dominated industry, was a significant milestone for the partially selective school, the school community and “for young women everywhere”.
“It reflects the supportive teachers and innovative, caring environment we strive to foster at Blacktown Girls High School, encouraging all students to pursue their dreams, regardless of gender,” she said.
There were also strong performances by public school students in Vocational Education and Training courses.
Isaac Guymer, who attended Moss Vale High School, was camping in Bungonia with limited mobile coverage when his mum texted him to “ring NESA”, about his first in the Human Services Examination.
Public school students were also first in Construction, Retail Services and Entertainment Industry.
Dubbo Senior College Industrial Arts Teacher John Miller watched proudly today as Year 12 student Mason Olney was awarded first place in Construction Examination.
Mason was stunned to find out he was first in the State and hopes to study a double degree in environmental science and law at the University of New England.
Maths guru Eddie Woo has been blown away by the performance of NSW public schools in the four-unit Mathematics Extension 2 course.
Public school students led by Warren Song of James Ruse Agricultural High School took out nine of the top 10 places. Six of the top 10 studied at James Ruse, two at North Sydney Boys High and one at Normanhurst Boys High.
Mr Woo, leader of the NSW Department of Education’s Mathematics Growth Team, said the results were amazing for the most difficult maths course.
“Mathematics Extension 2 requires students to grapple with sophisticated and abstract concepts, but even more than that it requires students to solve non-routine problems with creativity and insight,” Mr Woo said.
“Many of the questions that students must solve have no pre-set formula or algorithm; excelling in this course demonstrates that a student has such a deep understanding that they can apply it in unfamiliar situations.”
Warren Song also came second in Chemistry and his James Ruse classmate Joshua Paik was first in Physics and fourth in Mathematics Extension 2.
In Biology and Chemistry, public school students took seven of the top 10 places in both subjects.
In Society and Culture and Information Processes and Technology, public school students snapped up the first five places in both courses.
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